AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Chuck ’Feets’ Minert passes

September 27, 2016

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Chuck "Feets" Minert, one of the best off-road racers in America during the 1950s, passed away Sept. 24. He was 85.

Mr. Minert excelled in all types of motorcycle racing, from speedway to trials, from desert racing to scrambles, and later, in motocross. Mr. Minert rode a factory-backed BSA for much of his racing career and was loyal to the British brand long after the bikes were past their competitive prime.

"It's a sad day for motorcycling," said fellow Hall of Famer Tom White. "We have lost a great friend, a tough competitor and a true champion."

Mr. Minert rode all of the famous races of his era, such as the Big Bear and Greenhorn Enduros, the Cactus Derby and the Elsinore, Hopetown and Catalina Grand Prix. It was at Catalina in 1956 where he earned the biggest win of his career.

Mr. Minert met BSA motocross legend and future Hall of Famer Jeff Smith when he came to race in America. And, in 1969, Smith invited Minert to England to race in British and European motocross events. The European tour proved to be a highlight of Mr. Minert's career.

In the early 1970s, Mr. Minert, then over 40, remained a leading American rider in West Coast Trans-AMA races. He was one of the few riders to score national points in both Trans-AMA Motocross and AMA Grand National races.

While he eventually quit racing nationals, Mr. Minert never totally retired from racing. He continued competing into his 80s. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.